Sen. Golden’s ‘ghetto drug’ comments spark protest

About a dozen activists rallied in Bay Ridge Monday to condemn what they argue are racist remarks from state Sen. Marty Golden.

The senator was addressing the opioid epidemic when he described heroin as "not a ghetto drug," according to an interview published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle last week.

"It's happening to doctors' kids," he continued.

Golden's assessment sparked outrage among voters and other elected officials, many of whom have publicly denounced his comments.

The protesters say they want him to give up his seat on the state Senate's task force for heroin and opioid addiction.

A spokesperson for Golden also says he will not give up his seat on the task force, and added, "As we enter into an election cycle, uninformed criticism of Sen. Golden's efforts to fight against heroin and opioid abuse ... is to be expected."

"While my words were not articulated clearly or properly, the point I was trying to make was that this crisis is affecting virtually every community throughout New York state," he said.

Dionna King, a member of the Drug Policy Alliance, says she believes Golden's views are toxic.

"When you have a lawmaker that has racial bias, that harbors racist racism towards particular demographics, that's really harmful," she says.

President Donald Trump called for a "new American moment" of unity Tuesday night and challenged lawmakers to make good on long-standing promises to fix a dangerously fractured immigration system, warning of evil outside forces seeking to undermine the nat

President Donald Trump called for a "new American moment" of unity Tuesday night and challenged lawmakers to make good on long-standing promises to fix a dangerously fractured immigration system, warning of evil outside forces seeking to undermine the nation's way of life.

President Donald Trump called for a "new American moment" of unity Tuesday night and challenged lawmakers to make good on long-standing promises to fix a dangerously fractured immigration system, warning of evil outside forces seeking to undermine the nation's way of life.

A federal judge in New York hearing two lawsuits challenging the cancellation of a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation accused President Donald Trump on Tuesday of making "vicious" anti-immigrant statements.

A federal judge in New York hearing two lawsuits challenging the cancellation of a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation accused President Donald Trump on Tuesday of making "vicious" anti-immigrant statements.

A federal judge in New York hearing two lawsuits challenging the cancellation of a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation accused President Donald Trump on Tuesday of making "vicious" anti-immigrant statements.

Local leaders hosted a town hall discussion Thursday on civil rights and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program as lawmakers in Washington continued the fierce debate over a potential immigration deal.

Local leaders hosted a town hall discussion Thursday on civil rights and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program as lawmakers in Washington continued the fierce debate over a potential immigration deal.